Strap sealing apparatus



Nov. 26, 1940. w. c. CHILDRESS STRAP SEALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 NNN E mm MNN mm wm my WNW WNNN fiuanzfor: G. @w'ldness Nov. 26, 1940- w. c. CHILDRESS STRAP SEALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 26, 1940. w. c. CHILDRESS STRAP SEALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1935 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 m mmm 1 1-! A A I N 1940- w. c. CHlLDRESS STRAP SEALING APPARATUS 'Fi'led Feb. 13, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm a. Q/ziM'fiSS 1940- w. c. CHILDRESS STRAP SEALING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 13, 1935 mmw I mww QNN HIM-INN! Patented Nov. 26, 1940 wuumdcmiumoummmimw Acme Steel Company, Chicago, 111.. a corporation of Application February 13, ms, Serial No. 6,309

16 Claims. (01. 81-4.!)

This invention relates to improvements in strap sealing apparatus and its purpose is to provide improved means for applying a metal seal to overlapping strap ends, such as those employed in reeniorcing boxes or packages or binding together a group of packages, and then deforming the strap and seal to provide an interlocking joint. In the co-pending application of Ralph H. Norton Serial No. 727,455, filed May 25, 1934,

which has now matured into United States Patent No. 2,097,955, dated November 2, 1937, there is disclosed a form or strap sealing apparatus in which a plurality of channel-shaped seals are stacked one upon the other in a magazine form- 1 ing a part of the apparatus and these seals are fed in succession to a position between relatively movable sealing Jaws which may be moved bodily to position a seal over overlapping strap ends, after which the relative movement of the jaws bendsthe side walls of the channel-shaped seal about the overlapping strap ends and then shears the edges of the strap and seal to provide an interlocking joint and prevent relative endwise movement of the strap ends. In that form of apparatus, the means for feeding the seals from the magazine to the Jaws or the sealing device is actuated by certain mechanism which performs the function of drawing the strap taut around the box or package preliminary to applying the channel-shaped seal to the overlapping ends thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a modification oi the apparatus disclosed in said application of Ralph H. Norton 5 wherein a magazine is provided for storing a plurality of sealing blanks which may be flat or curved or slightly bent, as distinguished from a channel-shaped form, and which are adapted to be applied to the overlapping strap ends and to be 40 bent from their initial shapes to embrace completely the overlapping strap ends preliminary to the operation of shearing the edges of the strap and seal to cause the strap ends and the seal to interlock with each other. A further object 01 45 the invention is to provide an improved form of seal of a substantially flat or slightly curved shape which is so modified as to cause it to bend along predetermined lines when it is acted upon by the apparatus of the present invention. Still 50 another object of the invention is to provide a new form of sealing apparatus having a magazine adapted to contain a stack of superimposed seals which are substantially fiat or slightly curved and which are adapted to be fed automatically 55 from the magazine by the operation of mechanism which draws a strap taut around a box or package, after which a sealing device to which the seals are ted from the magazine is moved to apply the seals contained therein to the overlapping strap ends, the application of the seal 5 being effected by first bending the seal to cause it to enclose the overlapping strap ends and then deforming the edges of the strap and seal as, for example, by shearing these edges and deflecting intervening portions of the metal to provide 10 interlocking or abutting shoulders. Still another object of the invention is to provide strap sealing apparatus comprising a sealing device embodying relatively movable jaws having parts which, upon relative movement of the jaws, are 15 adapted first to bend a substantially fiat sealing blank about overlapping strap ends and then to shear the lateral edges of the strap and seal. Other objects relate to various features of construction' and arrangement which will appear 20 more fully hereinafter.

The nature f the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings, 25

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a box or package reenforced by surrounding metal straps and having positioned thereon the improved sealing apparatus of the present invention, which is shown in operative position with respect to the 3 overlapping ends of one of the straps;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged front elevation of the strap sealing apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of one'form of a substantially flat seal, constructed according to the present invention and adapted to be employed with the sealing apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the completed joint which is formed by the operation oi 40 the sealing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom 0! a modified form of seal which may be employed with the sealing apparatus of the present inventlOll;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a third form 0! seal which may be employed with the sealing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 7 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 shows a detail vertical section taken on the line 8-4 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a detail section taken on the line 9-4 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 shows a vertical section taken on the jaws have been loweredto apply a seal to the line ll0 of Fig. 7, showing the movable head or the apparatus and the sealing jaws in their elevated positions;

Fig. 11 shows a vertical section taken on the line il--il of Fig. 7, showing the relative positions of the parts when the head and the sealing bending jaws have been actuated to shear the lateral edges of the strap and seal;

Fig. 14 shows a vertical section on the line H-il of, Fig. 7, illustrating the magazine in a which the seals are stored and from which they are fed to the relatively movable jaws of the sealfrom'the magazine; 0 Fig. 16 shows an enlarged inclined section taken 30 ing device; I

'15 is a'sectional view taken on the line Iii-i of Fig. '7, showing the means for causing the strap stretching mechanism to effect the operation of the means by which the seals are fed on the line lS-ldoi Fig. 14;

Fig. 17-shows a vertical section taken on the line, ll of Fig. 16; I

Fig. 18 shows a section taken on the line l8-i8 of Fig. 16;

'Fig. -19 shows an enlarged. sectional view through the lower portions of the sealing jaws, showing the relative positions oi. the bending dies when they have bent the lateral edges of the seal about the strap ends;

Fig. 20 shows an enlarged vertical section through the sealing jaws illustrating the relative positions or theparts when the shearing dies have been actuated to shear the lateral edges of the strap and seal and to deflect intervening portions to form an interlocking joint; and

J Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2i-2I of Fig. '7.

.As illustrated in Fig. 1, the improved strap sealing apparatus 25, embodying the features of the present invention, is illustrated in position ontop of a box 26 which has applied thereto a pair of steel binding straps 21 which surround the box and which have their overlapping ends united by the use of the apparatus 25, shown in operative position with respect to one of the straps. The ends of each strap 21 are adapted to be en-' gaged by gripping devices embodied in the tool 25 which is operated to draw the strap taut device from a magazine in which a number of when a seal has been inserted between these devices, the head is moved downwardly to efiect the cutting off of the strap and to place the seal in a position where it may be bent to embrace the strap ends, whereupon the sealing devices areoperated to bendthe walls of the seal about the seal to form an interlocking joint of the type described and claimed in the United States patent of Ralph H. Norton No. 1,260,016, dated March 19, 1918, one form of which is shown in Fig. 4 0! the drawings. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted to be employed with a substantially fiat or slightly curved seal, several forms of which are illustrated in Figs. 3,5 and 6 of the drawings.

The seal 28. shown in Fig. 3, comprises a metal member having an intermediate flat portion 28 which is united with side portions 28 along parallel longitudinal bendinglines 28 about which the side portions are slightly bent with respect to the portion 26' when the seal is initially formed. The side portions 28" of the seal are provided, at some distance inwardly from the edges 28*, with projections 28, which are adapted to engage the side portions oi. the next adjacent seal, when a plurality of seals are piled one upon the other to form .a stack for placing in the magazine of the sealing tool. There are preferably two such projections 28' on each side portion 28 of each seal and these are spaced inwardly from the ends of the seal. The projections 28? may be conveniently formed by punching the side portions 28 at the time that these portions are initially deflected with respect to the part 28. The bending lines 28 are spaced apart to agree substantially with the width of the strap to which the seal is to be applied and the initial defiectionof the side portions 28 gives the seal a tendency to bend about the lines 28 so that it will bend along these lines when'subsequently operated upon by the sealing devices for bending the seal about the strap. The fiat portion 28 of each seal is provided centrally with an aperture 28 and these apertures align with each other when they are arranged in the form of a stack so that they may be engaged by a wire, string or other fastening member for securing the seals of the stack in assembled relation while they are beingtransported and while they are being placed in the magazine, whereupon the fastening member is removed. A relatively soft, ductile'wire is preferably employed for this purpose and the ends of the wire may be transversely bent around the ends of the bundle to maintain the seals in assembled relation, as described and claimed in the co-pending application of Chester M. MacChesney Serial No. 727,410, filed May 25, 1934, which has now matured into United States Patent No. 2,062,098, dated November 24, 1936. When the bundle of seals has been placed in the magazine of the sealing apparatus, the wire may be pulled out of the aligning apertures 28 to release the seals for engagement by the seal feeding means which moves them successively into engagement with the sealing device of the movable head.- The projections 28 provide point to polnt contacts between adjacent seals which space the, body portions of these seals slightly apart to facilitate the removal of the lowermost seal only from the magazine on each operation of the feeding means, in addition to reducing the frictional resistance between the lower seal and the next adjacent one during this sliding movement. Each seal'employed with the sealing apparatus of the present invention is preferably formed of metal which is hard and stiff but which has a slight resiliency and sumcient ductility to cause it to retain'a permanent set after the side portions 28' have been bent around the overlapping ends'of the strap. strap and then to shear the edges of the strap and In Fig. 5 of the drawings, there is shown another form of seal 23 which has a flat central portion 29' separated from parallel side portion 23 by intervening longitudinal score lines 23 which indent the metal for some distance inwardly from each end so that the seal has a tendency to bend along these lines when pressure is applicdto the lateral edges 29 of the seal. These score lines may be formed by indenting the metal and, at the same time that they are formed, the blank is punched to form projections 29' which are adapted to space adjacent seals slightly apart when they are stacked upon each other, thusproviding the advantages heretofore pointed out in connection with the seal 28-. The center of each seal 29 is provided with an aperture 29 and these apertures align with each other when the seals are stacked so that they may be secured together by a wire or other fastening means for convenience in transporting them or placing'them in the magazine of the sealing tool.

In Fig. 6 there is shown another form of seal 30 which is in the form of a rectangular metal plate having a slight transverse curvature between its longitudinal edges 30. This seal is provided at its ends with pairs of oppositely disposed'notches 30 which give the seal a tendency to bend along lines extending between opposite notches so that when the seal is applied to the overlapping strap ends, the side portions 3|] tend to bend along the lines connecting the notches 30 while the interventing portion 30 engages one side of the strap end. As in the other forms of seal described above, the seal 30 is provided with punched projections 30= which space the seals slightly apart and reduce the frictional resistance'between'them when the lowermost seal is withdrawn from the stack. The seals 30 are provided with central apertures 30 for engagement by a wire or other fastening member when the seals are stacked upon each other.

When any of the seals 28; 29 or 30 is applied to the overlapping strap ends 21' and 21 by the use of the sealing apparatus of the present invention, the lateral edges of the seal are bent beneath the overlapping strap ends, as shown in Fig. 4, by the operation of the bending dies and the operation of the shearing dies operates to shear the lateral edges of the strap and seal along the lines 3| with a deflection of the metal between the shear lines to form lugs 32. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, there are two pairs of cuts on each side of the seal and two downwardly deflected lugs 32 which provide abutting shoulders preventing relative endwise movement of the strap ends.

The sealing apparatus 25 comprises a base plate 33 which is adapted to rest upon the surface of the box or package about which a strap 21 is to be drawn taut and sealed. This plate 33 preferwhich are adapted to grip the opposite end por-' tions of the strap and to hold them while the strap is being drawn taut. One pair of gripping devices is carried directly by the base plate and for this purpose the forward portion of the plate 33 is provided with an upwardly extending-integral block or boss 34 having an overhanging flange 34* adapted to conform to and contact with the curved upper end of a movable gripping dog 35 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 36 engaging the back wall of this boss, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. This gripping dog is provided on its under side with a serrated gripping surface 35* which is adapted to coact with the upper sideof the end portion was the strap 21 when this strap is seated upon the stationary. gripping plate or flange "which, projects forwardlyas an integral part of the base plate 33. This ripping plate or flange has its outer edges. beveled downwardly as shown at 31 to facilitate the insertion ofthe strap beneath the movable s pping dogfl 'which is similarly provided with a' tapered portion 38" adapted to cooperate with 10 the beveled surface 31' to form a tapered passage to receive the strap, as shown in Fig. 8. The serrated surface 35 of the gripping dog: 3! is offset toward the right, as viewed in Pig. 2, with respect to a vertical plane passing through the axis of the pivot pin", so that when the end 21' of the strap is inserted beneath it. a pull on the strap toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, will-tend automatically to increase the grip of the dog ll" upon the strap. When a pull is exerted upon the 20 strap in the opposite direction, the dog 35 tends to release its grip so that the strap may be readily removed from its position over the plate or flange 31. The gripping dog I! is provided between its gripping surface and the pin 38 with an inwardly 25 extending slot 35 adapted to receive the body portion of the strap 21 after the strap has been passed around the box or package. This supply portion of the strap is adapted to'be held in this slot 35 by frictional engagement with a ball 38' which is pressed downwardly by a coil spring 33 engaging a recess in the gripping dog 35 and an aligning recess in the overhanging part of the boss 34. A threaded plug 40 adjustably engages the upper: end of this spring, and this plug my be adjusted to vary the compression of the spring which, in addition to maintaining the ball 33 in contact with the supply portion of the strap 21,

forces the dog 35 downwardly into engagement with the upper end portion of the strap 21 which is seated upon the plate or flange 31.

After the strap 21 has been inserted beneath the dog 35 and passed around the box or package, the other end portion 21" thereof is placed in position to be gripped by a movable pair of gripping devices comprisingablock 44 which is slidably mounted on the front portion of the base plate 33 at the end thereof opposite the block 34. This block 44 is secured by cap screws 45 to the end of a bar 46 which is slidably mounted on the base plate for movement parallel to the front edge thereof and parallel to the direction in which the strap is passed around the package. As shown in Figs. 2 and 15, the block 44 comprises an overhanging portion 44* which is curved to conform to the curvature of the upper end of the contacting gripping dog 41, pivotally mounted upon a pin 48 secured in the rear wall of the block. The ripping dog 41 is provided on its under side with a serrated gripping surface 41 which is adapted to coact with the upper side of the end portion 21 of the strap when the strap is seated upon the gripping plate or flange 49 formed integrally with and projecting forwardly from the lower part of the block 44. The gripping dog 41 is inclined so that the gripping surface 41 is offset toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, with respect to a vertical plane through the axis of the pin 48, so that a pull upon the strap 21 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, tends to increase the grip of the dog 41' upon the strap, while a .pull upon the strap in the opposite direction serves to effect the automatic release of the strap from the gripping dog. This gripping dog 41 is moved into engage- 1| ment with the strap by a coil spring 58 which engages a passage 5| formed in'the overhanging portion of the block at, with one end thereof engaging the inclined upper surface of the grip ping dog and with the other end thereof engaging a plug 52 -which threadedly engages the passage 5| to permit adjustment of the compression of the spring.

The'bar'46, to which the block 44 is attached by-the studs 45, is mounted to slide in a groove 56 which is formed in the upper side of the base plate 33, as shown particularly in Figs. 7, 8, 14 and 15, and it is held against upward movement by a bracket or frame 51 and a block 58, both of which are secured to the base plate 33 by screws 59 passing upwardly therethrough, so that they bridge the groove 56 in spaced relation to each other. The bracket 57 extendsupwardly from the base plate and supports theseal storage magazine and the seal feeding mechanism hereinafter described. The extremity of the bar .46, opposite the block 44 is reversely bent, as

shown in Fig. 21, to overlie the end of a lever 60 which is pivotally secured to the end of the bar by a pin iii. The lever 60 extends rearwardly over the base plate 33, as shown in Fig. 7, and has an intermediate part thereof pivotally connected by a pin 62 with a link 63, the forward end of which is pivotally secured to the stationary block 58 by means of a pin 66 passing through the upper and lower flanges 58 and 58 respectively, of this block, as shown in Fig. 21. The lever 60 is adapted to be oscillated about the pin 62 to cause it to assume the position shown by dotted lines at 60- in Fig. '7, thereby causing movement of the block toward the block 34 for the purpose of drawing the strap 21 taut around the box or package. The lever 60 is reenforced on its upper side by a bar 60 which has the forward portion thereof bent upwardly to overlie the rear end of the link 63 and engage the pin 62, as shown in Fig. 10, and the rear end of the lever 60 is reversely bent to form a part 60 which extends parallel to the body portion thereof and which is adapted to receive beneath it the rear flattened end 65* of a link 65. This link is pivotally connected to the lever 60 by a pin 66 which passes vertically through the body portion of the lever, through the reenforcing bar 60 and through the reversely bent portion 60 These parts are embraced and held against upward movement by a yoke 61 which is secured to the base plate 33 by screws 68 extending upwardly through the plate, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10. The forward end of the link 65 has a flange 65 lying in a vertical plane, which engages the slot 69 'formed in a crank arm 69 which is constructed integrally with the hub Ill of an operating lever 10 adapted to be manually manipulated to effect the stretching of the strap by causing the block 44 to move toward the-block 34. The flange 65 of the link 65 is pivotally connected to the crank arm 69 bya pin H, and thehub Ill of the operating lever is secured by a transverse pin 12 upon a shaft 13 which is journaled in bushings I4 mounted in apertures formed in upwardly extending arms or posts 15 secured to or formed integrally with the base plate 33, as shown particularly in Fig. '7. A washer 16 of leather or other friction material is secured to the side of one of the posts 15 to bear against the hub ill of the lever or handle 10, and a coil spring TI is mounted on the shaft 13 to bear at one end against a collar 18 fixed on the shaft and at the other end against the washer secured in these plates.

aaaarcs construction is adapted to hold the lever ill in any desired adjusted position, thus maintaining a cotresponding fixed spaced relation of the blocks 34 and 44 while the strap is being applied to the gripping devices. Upon movement of the lever 10 to the rear, that is, toward the left as viewed in Fig. 10, the rear end of the lever 60 is moved in a forward direction and the forward portion of this lever swings outwardly about the pin 62 until the lever occupies the position shown by the dotted lines til in Fig. 7. This movement of the lever causes the bar '46 to slide on the base plate with a corresponding movement of the block 44 with respect to the block 34. An important advantage of this'construction is that the operation of the lever I0 produces a rapid relative movement of the blocks 34 and 44 during the early part of the stretching operation when the strap is comparatively slack, while the rapidity, V,

The sealing of the overlapping ends of the strap, by the application thereto of a seal 28 (or 29, or 30), is effected by a'movable head comprising a pair of side plates 8| which are pivotally mounted on a shaft 82 fixed in the lower parts of the posts 15, as shown in Figs. 7, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The plates 8| are notched on their upper sides, as shown at 8|, to receive the shaft 13 when the head 80 is in its uppermost position, and these plates are adapted to receive between them a pair of jaws 83 which are pivotally mounted upon pins 84 having their ends Each jaw member is made up of a plurality of bending dies 83 and a plurality of cutting dies 83 which are arranged alternately, side by side, in each jaw member as shown particularly in Figs. 11, 16 and 18. In this instance, there are three bending dies and two interposed cutting dies in each jaw member. The die plates of the-jaw members are provided on their inner edges with curved surfaces 83, concentric with the axes of the pivot pins 34, and these curved surfaces are adapted to move in close proximity to each other when the jaw members are pivoted about their axes. Between these curved surfaces and below the line of their nearest proximity, there is mounted a seal supporting member or saddle 85 whichis substantially triangular in cross-section, having curved surfaces 85* which are adapted to coact with the curved surfaces 83 of the jaw members, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. This saddle 85 is provided at each end with an integral projecting trunnion 85*, shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 16, and

these trunnions engage apertures in the side plates 8| to support the saddle in position between the jaw members which are thus capable of relative angular movement without disturbing the position of the saddle.

The lower portions of the bending dies 83 of the jaw members are provided with inwardly projecting hooks or jaws 83. These bending dies are undercut or recessed above the hooks or jaws 83*, as shown at 83, and these recesses are adapted to be engaged by the edges of the seal 28 when the seal is initially placed between the jaw members, as shown in Fig. 10. The

bending dies 83' which are on the right hand side of the head 88, as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, extend upwardly and outwardly from the pivot pins 84 upon which they are mounted and then terminate in upwardly and inwardly inclined arms 83 which are provided on their inner ends with curved surfaces 83' adapted to be engaged by an operating member for effecting movement of the die plates about their pivots. At the other side of the head 88, the die plates 83 of the other jaw member 83 extend upwardly to form arms 83 which are provided on their inner sides with surfaces 83 adapted to be engaged by an actuating member.

The cutting die plates 83 which are positioned between the bending die plates 83 are mounted for relative movement with respect to the plates 83' about the pivot pins 84 and they are provided at their lower ends with inclined cutting edges 83 which, when the cutting dies of opposite Jaw members are moved toward each other, are adapted to shear the lateral edges of the seal and the enclosed strap ends to form an interlocking joint of the construction illustrated inFig. 4. The cutting die plates 83 in the jaw member 83 at the right hand side of the head 88, as viewed in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, extend upwardly and outwardly from the pivot pin 84 upon which they are mounted and terminate in upwardly and inwardly inclined arms 83*, which are similar in form and normal position to the arms 83 formed on the bending dies. At the left hand side of the head 88, as viewed in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the cutting dies 83 extend upwardly from the pivot pin 84 upon which they are mounted, but are relatively short and are provided at their upper ends with inclined or curved surfaces 83 to accommodate the adjacent operating member which is provided for the purpose of effecting pivotal movement of these die plates. The die plates 83 in the other jaw member have inner surfaces 83 formed on the arms 83' which are also adapted to be engaged by the actuating members. For the purpose of returning the cutting die plates 83 to their normal positions with respect to the bending die plates 83", as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, after these cutting die plates have been moved from their normal positions, the cutting die plates 83 are provided with pins 83 which project laterally therefrom through elongated slots 83 which are formed in the bendin dies 83 of each jaw member 83. These pins also project through elongated curved slots 8| which are formed in the side plates 8| and the projecting ends of these pins are provided with annular grooves which are engaged by the eyes 86' formed on the ends of the arms of loop springs 86 which are positioned on the outer sides of the side 'plates 8| and which are adapted normally, through their connections with the pins 83", to move the die plates 83 and 83 to their normal positions shown in Fig. 11. When the die plates are in these normal positions, as shown in Fig. 10, the lower portions of the die plates are adapted to receive between them the substantially fiat seal 28, the edges 28 of which engage the recesses 83 formed in the bending die plates 83 The next operation, after the seal has been inserted, consists in lowering the head to position the seal 28 over the overlapping strap ends, as shown in Fig. 11. After this has been done, the bending die plates 83 are actuated, inde- 'pendently of the cutting die plates 83, to bend the lateral portions 28 of the seal downwardly and inwardly around the overlapping strap ends,

as shown in Fig. 12. Following this operation, the cutting die plates 83 are actuated to shear the lateral edges of the strap and seal and form the interlocking joint illustrated in Fig. 4.

The bending and cutting die plates of the jaw members 83 are adapted to be actuated by a cam 88 which constitutes the hub of an operating lever 82 pivotally mounted upon a pin 83 which extends between and is secured in the side plates 8|. When the operating lever 82 is in its normal position with respect to the side plates 8| and the jaw members 83, as shown in Fig. 10, the lower portion 88 of the cam 88 occupies a position between the arms 83 and the arms 83 of the bending dies and above this portion 88' of the cam there is a curved inclined surface 88 formed on a projection 88 and engaged by the surfaces 83 of the arms 83*, while at the other side the part 88' has surfaces 88 which lie in contact with the surfaces 83 of the'arms 83 Assuming that a seal 28 is positioned between the jaw members as shown in Fig. 10, the head 88 is then lowered to the position shown in Fig. 11 to locate the seal 28 over the overlapping strap ends 21 and 21 and the parts are then in readiness to cause the edges of the seal 28 to be bent about the overlapping strap ends by the inward movement of the hooks or jaws 83 which are formed on the lower ends of the bending die plates. This is accomplished by moving the operating lever 82 forwardly or toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 11, from the position shown .in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 12. When this occurs, the surfaces 83 of the arms 83 of the right hand jaw member 83 are engaged by the surface 88 on the projection 88 of the cam and are caused to move outwardly away from the pivot pin 83 while, at the same time, the surfaces 83 of the arms 83 of the bending dies of the other jaw member 83 are forced away from the pivot pin 83 by the coaction therewith of the surface 88 of the cam and the lower arcuate surface 88 thereof. By the time the operating lever 82 has reached the position shown in Fig. 12, the upper portions of the bending die plates of the opposite jaw members 83 will have been spread apart to their maximum extent with the result that the side portions 28 of the seal 28 will have been bent around the overlapping strap ends to form an enclosing sleeve closely embracing the overlapping portions of the strap.

After the parts have assumed the relative positions shown in Fig. 12, the operating lever 92 is moved further toward the right as viewed in that figure until it occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 13. During this movement, the bending dies remain substantially stationary, but the cutting dies 83 are then actuated by other portions of the cam 88. which are embodied in the right hand jaw member 83 are actuated by the projecting portion 88 of the cam which is located above the portion 88.

At the same time the curved surfaces 83 of the opposite cutting die plates are engaged by a projection 88 formed on the lower part of the'cam which is adapted to force these die plates outwardly about their pivots. As a result of this ac tion, the opposed cutting die plates are caused to move about their pivots with the result that the cutting edges 83 formed on their lower ends are adapted to shear the lateral edges of the strap and seal and then to deflect the intervening portions of the metal to provide the projecting lugs 32 and abutting shoulders shown in Fig. 4. When this operation has been completed, the operating The arms 83 of the cutting dies lever 92 is moved in the opposite direction about its pivot 93 with the result that both the cutting die plates and bending die plates are restored to their normal positions by the action of the springs 99 which act upon the pins 93 while these pins in turn act upon the ends of the slots formed in the bending die plates.

The law member 93 which is positioned nearer to the pivotal axis 92 of the head 99 is connected to the pin 92 by a pair of links 96 and 91. The link 99 is pivotally connected to the jaw member by a pin 99 and it is pivotally connected at its other endto the link 91 by means of a pin 99. The lower end of the link 91 is pivoted on the pin 92 which has sleeves I99 mounted thereon for spacing the links midway between the side plates 9I. The link 99 projects into a slot 91 formed in the end of the link 91 and this end of the link 99 is rounded on the lower corner thereof as shown at 99, to permit relative angular movement of the two links in an upward direction only. relative angular movement in a downward direction being prevented beyond the point where the two links are in substantial alignment with each other, because of the engagement of the angular upper corner of the link 96 with the end wall of the slot 91 formed in the other link. When the two links 99 and 91 are thus in alignment, the axis of the pin 99 is located below or to the right of a plane containing the axes of the pins 92 and 99, so that the two links which act as a toggle connection between the jaw members 93 and the pivotal axis of the head 99, thereby preventing relative movement of the jaw members while the links occupy these aligning positions. This toggle connection permits the head 99 to be moved downwardly by the jaw members 93 with the lever 92 in the upright position shown in Fig. 10, until the seal 29 held between the jaw members 93 has 40 been passed into position over the overlapping that the link 91 is held against further movementstrap ends, as shown in Fig. 11. As the head 99 approaches the position shown in Fig. 11, a stop member I9I, threadedly engaging the link 91, abuts against the base plate 39 with the result and the toggle connection between the two links is then broken upon continued downward movement of the head 89. This breaking of the toggle connection allows the operating lever 92 to be 50 then moved in a forward direction from the position shown in Fig. 11. This movement of the lever 92 about its pivot 93 causes the cam 99 to actuate the bending die plates 93 to bend the lateral portions of the seal about the overlapping strap ends, as shown in Fig. 12, and the further movement of the lever 92 in the same direction results in the shearing of the lateral edges of the strap and seal by the cutting die plates 93', as shown in Fig. 13. A nut I92 threadedly engages the stop member I 9| and holds it in .ad-

so that an inwardly projecting notch or opening I99 is formed between these flanges in'r'egistry with the path of movement of the jaws 99 as the head 99 is lowered, thus permitting I the jaw members to be closed about the seal and strap in this notch or opening I99 while the strap is supported 'on the adjacent flanges 31 and I91. The flange I91 is beveled on its upper side at its forward edge, as shown at I91 to correspond with the bevel on the forward edge of the flange 31, to permit the convenient insertion of the strap. At the commencement of the operation of applying a strap 21 arounda box or package, the free end 21 of the strap is first inserted between the gripping dog 35 and the flange 31 with the extremity of the strap projecting across the opening I98 and resting upon the flange I91, as shown in Fig. 2. The strap is then passed around the box or package and the portion 21 thereof, which is connected to the source of supply, is passed beneath the gripping dog 41 so that it is held against the flange 49 carried by the movable block 44. After being passed beneath the gripping dog 41, the supply portion 21 of the strap is placed in po-. si-tion over the extremity of the free end 21 of the strap on the flange I91, as shown in Fig. 2, and beneath the forward end of the overlying portion of the bracket 51 by which the seal storage and feeding mechanism is carried. strap is then inclined upwardly toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, and passed over a stationary cutting die II9, from which point the supply portion of the strap is carried over the flange 31 of the base plate and caused to occupy the slot 35 in the gripping dog 35. The stationary cutting die II9 has the form shown particularly in Fig. 10, being provided with two oppositely extending blades H9, each of which has a cutting edge Il0 At its middle point, the die has an upwardly extending lug II9 which is apertured for engagement by a bolt III by which it is secured to the flange 58 formed. on the block 59. When thus secured in place by the bolt III, the lower edge of the die I I9 rests upon the upper surface of thebase plate 33 so that angular movement thereof is prevented. The under portions of the blades of the cutting die III! are inclined upwardly as shown at I III in Fig. 10 to facilitate the insertion beneath the cutting blade of the free end portion 21 of the strap.

The stationary cutting die H9 is adapted to cooperate with a cutting blade II2 mounted upon a shearing lever II3 which is pivotally supported on the bolt II I and which is connected with one end of a link II4 having its other end pivotally connected to a pin II4 stationarily mounted upon the adjacent side plate 8| of the head 89. The pin II4 which connects the lever II3 with the link II4 has a coil spring II9 connected thereto and this spring is attached at its other end to a stationary pin IIi'I carried by the base plate 33. This spring II9 tends normally to rock the shearing lever II3 about its pivot III in a direction to elevate the cutting blade H2. The action of this spring II9 tends also to elevate the head 99. about the pin 92 since it tends to move the pin II4 toward the pin IIB as viewed in Fig. 10. The extent of this movement is limited by the engagement of one of the side plates 9| of the head with a flange I 93 formed on an, adjustable stop arm I93 which is pivoted on one of the bushings 14 carried by the shaft 13, as shown in Figs. '1, 11 and 12. This stop arm is provided at its lower end with a horizontal flange I93 which rests upon the head of a screw I94 adjustably engaging the base 33, being heldin engagement with that screw by The another screw I35 which passes through the flange and also enters a threaded aperture in the base. As the head 33 is lowered by forward pressure on the lever 92, the first effect of the downward movement of the head is to lower the shearing lever H3 against the action of the spring II9 until the shearing blade flnally engages the upper supply portion of the strap 21 and shears it off by cooperating with the 10 underlying cutting die II3. Immediately after the strap is cut off from the source of supply by the action of the blades 3 and H2, the seal 23 carried between the jaw members 33 engages the upper end portion of the strap which has just been cut 011 from the source of supply and forces it downwardly against the underlying end portion 21. As soon as this has occurred, or immediately before it occurs, the previously adjusted stop member I3I engages the base plate 33 to break the toggle connection formed by the links 93 and 91 so that these links then move upwardly as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, and the lever 92 is then permitted to move forwardly about its pivot 93 with the result that the jaw members 33 are actuated as heretofore described to effect first the bending of the side portions of the seal about the strap, as shown in Fig. 12, and then the shearing of the lateral edges of the strap and seal, as shown in Fig. 13. When these operations have been completed the joint shown in Fig. 4 is formed and the lever 92 is then moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 13, thereby releasing the lower parts of the jaws from engagement with the strap and seal due to the turning of the cam 93 about the pin 93 and the separation of the lower portions of the jaw members 83 under the influence of the springs 36. The continued movement of the lever 92 in the same direction then results in the upward tilting of the head 33 about its pivot 32 and a corresponding elevation of the shearing lever II 3, until these parts assume their normal upper positions shown in Fig. 10, in which position the parts are held by the spring H9. This upper position of the head 33 may be varied by adjusting the plate I33 to vary the position of the flange I33 which is engaged by one of the side plates 3I when the head is in its upper position. The operator then reverses the motion of the stretching lever 13 with the result that the block 44 is moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. '7, thereby releasing the sealed strap from the grip of the dog 41. -The tool may then be moved bodily toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2 and away from the strap to release the strap from the gripping dog 35. As this is done, the flanges 31 and I31 are withdrawn from their positions beneath the strap and the strap is then permitted to snap downwardly into contact with '60 the top surface of the box or package.

When the lever 92 is elevated with the head 83, it should be turned angularly about its pivot 93 until it is restored to the normal position shown in Fig. 10, thus permitting the lower seal-engaging portions of the jaw members 83 to be separated to their maximum extent under the influence of the springs 33. To insure this turning of the lever 92 about the pivot 93 to the normal initial position shown in Fig. 10, a coil spring I38 is mounted on the enlarged portion 93 of the pivot pin 93 between the head 93 of the pin and the adjacent side plate 8|, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, and the ends of this spring are so arranged that the spring causes the turning of the pin 93 and of the lever 92 mounted thereon, toward the left as viewed in Fig. 10, when the lever is released by the operator. For this purpose, one end I33 of the spring bears against the pin Ill which con- .nects the link H4 with the adjacent side plate 5 3I and the other end I33 of the spring is secured to a pin I39 which is fixed on the lever 92, so that the spring is coiled and put under tension by the turning of the lever 92 toward the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 10. 10

The seal storage and feeding mechanism which introduces the seal 23 into the space between the lower portions of the jaw members 33 is carried by the previously described bracket 51 which is attached to the base plate 43 by screws 39, 15 as shown in Fig. 14, and which comprises the block 91' extending over the sliding bar 43 and having an upwardly beveled front end to permit the convenient insertion of the strap. This bracket extends upwardly at one side of the 23 movable head 33 and is provided with an inclined flange .i'I to which there is secured the seal magazine II5 by means of screws II3. A longitudinal rib on the magazine seats in a groove 51 formed in the flange, as shown in Fig. '7. go This magazine occupies an inclined position at right angles to the inclination of the head 33 when the head 33 is in its uppermost position,

as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and the magazine is provided along its front face with a longi- 3o tudinal slot H5 through which access may be had to the stack of seals in the magazine. These flanges H5 at the sides of the slot engage the end portions of those side walls of the seals which are directed toward the front of the apg5 paratus and retain the seals in place in the channel of the magazine. The lower end of the magazine rests upon a guide plate I I! which is secured to the flange 51 of the bracket by means of rivets 3, shown in Fig. 2, the guide plates 4 having flanges II'I which extend downwardly at the sides of the bracket as shown in Fig. 16. The lowermost seal 23 of the stack of seals in the magazine rests upon this guide plate Ill and is adapted to be moved over it as it is pushed 5 endwlse into the space between the portions 33 of the jaw members. If the seals be of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the edges only of the lowermost seal will rest upon the plate I", but if the seals be of the form shown in Fig. 5, they 50 will rest upon the plate I I1 substantially throughout their width as they are transferred successfully over this plate to a position between the jaws. During this movement from the magazine to the jaws, the seals pass through an open- 5 ing II5 which is formed in one side wall of the magazine adjacent the head 33, as shown in Fig. 16. The movement of a seal 23 through the opening IL": is eflected by the movement of a reciprocating plunger or feeding member 50 I 23 which is adapted to move through an opening 5 in the other side wall of the magazine and to slide in a groove II'I formed in the guide plate I". The plunger I23 is essentially cylindrical in form. The groove II'I formed in 65 the plate I" conforms to the curvature of the plunger. The plunger I23 projects sufficiently above the plate I" to engage the ends of the central body portion 23' of the lowermost seal 28 of the stack of seals in the magazine, as 70 shown in Figs. 16 and 17, and the forward end of the plunger is provided on its uppermost part with a forwardly extending tooth or projection I23 which is adapted to extend over the top of the lowermost seal 23 and beneath the body 73 portion of the next adjacent seal during the movement of the lowermost seal from the magazine to a position between the jaw members. This is permitted by reason of the fact thattthe body portions of adjacent seals are spaced slightly apart by the projections 28 in the case of the seals 28, and by the corresponding projections 29 and 30 formed on the seals 29 and 30, respectively. During the movement of the lowermost seal from the magazine, the tooth I20 on the plunger maintains this seal in engagement with the guide plate and at the same time itassists in separating this lowermost seal of the stack from the next seal above it. Owing to the point to point contact'between adjacent seals, due to the projections formed on them, the frictional resistance which must be overcome in moving the seals from the magazine is comparatively slight. In order to insure the location of the jaw members in a position in which the seal moved from the magazine will pass into engagement with the portions 83 of the jaw members, the stop member I03 may be adjusted by manipulating the screws I04 and I05 in order to adjust the location of the flange I03 which de termines the upper position of the head 80 under the influence of the spring I I9. When a seal has just been inserted between the jaw members by the movement of the plunger I20, the parts are in readiness for the downward movement of the head 80 to position the seal over the overlapping strap ends and the subsequent relative movement of the jaw members to bend the seal about the strap ends and then deform the strap and seal to provide an interlocking joint.

The plunger or feeding member I20 is mounted to slide in a guideway I2 I a formed in a cylindrical guide member I2I constructed as a part of the bracket 51, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15. The plunger I20 is adapted to be actuated by a lever I23 provided at its rear end with an elongated slot I 23 engaged by a pivot pin I24 which is mounted in two ears 51 formed on the bracket 51. The forward end of the lever I23 enters a slot I 20 formed in the plunger I20 and is pivotally connected to the plunger by a vertical pin I25. The forward end of the lever I23 also engages a slot I2I in the end of the guide member I2I and the lever I23 is adapted to coact with the shoulder I2I at the inner end of this slot to limit the seal feeding movement of the plunger at the point where it has positioned the seal properly between the jaw members 83. In addition, the outer side plate 8I has a lug or stop 8 I shown in Fig. 16 which projects into the path of the seal to engage the end of the seal and thereby position it between the jaws. The outer end of the channel I 2I in the guide member is closed by a screw threaded plug I26 which is secured in place by a spring clip I 21 engaging an annular groove in the guide member and having an arm I27 extending transversely through a hole in the guide member and engaging the end of the plug. This plug limits the outward movement of the plunger I20 away from the head The plunger I20 is normally withdrawn to its outer position, as shown in Figs. 2 and '7, wherein its outer end lies in close proximity to the plug I26, by means of a spring actuated pin I28 which is mounted in a tubular bore I29 formed in the bracket 51 with the outer end of the pin engaging the inner vertical face of the lever I23, as shown in Fig. 7. The pin I28 has an enlarged head I28 which is slidably mounted in the enlarged portion I29 of the bore formed in the bracket, and a coil spring I30 is mounted between the head of the pin and a plug I3I which threadedly engages the inner end of the bore.

The pin I28 thus engages the lever I23 with a resilient pressure which is adapted to withdraw the plunger I20 after it has been moved toward the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 7 to feed a seal to a position between the laws.

The seal feeding movement of the plunger I20 is adapted to be effected by the movement of the sliding bar 46 during the operation of drawing the strap taut around the package, so that when the strap has been drawn taut with its ends overlapping, a seal will have been placed in position between the jaw members 83 in readiness for the lowering of the head 80 to out off the supply portion of the strap and to apply the seal to the overlapping strap ends. For this purpose, a socket member I is secured to the block 44 by the screws which have heretofore been described as securing the block to the slidingbar 46, as shown in Fig. 15. This socket member has an upwardly extending cylindrical portion provided with a bore I35 extending upwardly from the lower end thereof and this bore is occupied by an actuating member I36 having a head I36 which projects through an opening I35 formed in the socket member at the upper end of the bore. The tapered upper extremity of this head I36 is adapted to coact with the lever I23 by which the plunger I 20 is moved. The actuating member I36 has a collar I36 which slides within the bore I35", and a coil spring I3! is interposed between this collar and a plug I38 which threadedly engages the lower end of the bore I35 so that the spring normally maintains the actuating member I36 in its uppermost position shown in Fig. 15. The plug I38 is apertured' and is slidably engaged by the stem of the actuating member.

When the lever I 23 is being actuated to move the plunger I 20 to feed a seal, the tapered head I36 of the actuating member coacts with the inclined surface I 23 formed on the side of the lever I23, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, and, in case the operation of stretching the strap taut requires a greater movement of the sliding bar 46 than is necessary to feed the seal 28 to a position between the jaw members, the stopping of the plunger I20 by the engagement of the lever I 23 with the shoulder I2 I on the guide member will prevent further movement of the lever I 23 and the continued motion of the bar 46 will then cause the taperedhead of the actuating member I36 to ride downwardly on the inclined surface I 23 of the lever until the actuating member is permittedv to snap beneath and pass the lever I23. Then, when the stretching of the strap has been completed, and the bar 46 returns to its normal position, the tapered head of the actuating member I36 will engage the inclined surface I23 formed on the underside of the lever I23 and the actuating member will again move down.. wardly against the compression of the spring I31 until it snaps beneath the lever I23 as the bar 46 and the block 44 are restored to their normal positions. The surface I23 has a lesser inclination to the horizontal than the surface I23 on the lever I23 so that While the engagement of the actuating member with the surface I 23 is adapted to effect movement of the lever I23 up to the point where a predetermined resistance is encountered, the slope of the surface I 23 is such that the actuating member I36 will be wedged downwardly by this surface and pass beneath the lever merely by the normal return motion of the bar 48.

Each time that the stretching lever II is operated to draw a strap taut around a package, the lever I23 is simultaneously operated by the action of the bar 40 to cause aseal to be projected from the bottom of the magazine Hi into the space between the lower portions of the jaw members 83. Thus, when the stretching operation has been completed, the parts are in readiness for the downward movement of the head 80 which is efiected by imparting motion thereto through the lever 82 with the result that as the head 8 is lowered, the supply portion of the strap is cut off from the source of supply by the action of the shearing lever Ill and the seal positioned between the jaw members is then positioned over the overlapping strap ends. Then, the forward motion of the lever 92 bends the seal along the preformed bending lines described above in connection with the forms of seal shown in Figs. 3, and 6 with the result that the seal is first bent around the overlapping strap ends and is then sheared along with the enclosed strap ends at its edges to provide an interlocking joint. Successive operations of this character may be repeated very rapidly with successive substantially flat seals being fed from the bottom of the stack of seals in the magazine into position between the lower portions of the jaw members 83 while the head 80 is in its uppermost position. Due to the spacing apart of adjacent seals by the projec-.

tions formed thereon and the extension of the tooth I20 on the plunger between adjacent seals, the feeding operation takes place with the projection of only one seal from the magazine at a time.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it

will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping. means for holding a substantially flat seal, means for moving said last named means to position said seal on said overlapping strap ends, means for bending said seal from the flat condition into tubular form enclosing said overlapping strap ends, and means associated with and operative after the operation of said last named means for deforming the strap and seal to provide an interlocking joint.

2. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a pair of relatively movable jaw members each having relatively movable parts, means for feeding a substantially flat seal to a position between said jaw members which have means for engaging and holding the edges of the seal, means for moving said jaw members bodily to position said seal over said strap ends, and means for thereafter actuating said jaw members to effect relative movement of said parts and thereby to bend said seal about said strap ends and then to deform the seal and strap ends.

3. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of a jaw comprising a bending die and a relatively movable cutting die adapted to engage a strap seal.

4. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of a pair of jaws comprising bending dies adapted to engage opposite edges of a substantially flat seal plate, each of said jaws comprising cutting dies movable relatively to said bending dies, and means for moving said dies into successive en- Basement with a strap seal.

5. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of a jaw member made up of a plurality of bending dies and a plurality of alternately arranged cutting dies, and means for moving said bending dies and for moving said cutting dies relatively to said bending dies;

6. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of separate means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping between said holding means, means for efl'ecting relative movement of said holding means for drawing the strap taut around a package, a movable head, a pair of relatively movable jaw members carried by said head, each of said jaw members comprising relatively movable bending and cutting dies, said bending dies of opposite jaw members being adapted to hold a substantially flat seal between them by engagement with the edges of the seal, means for mov-. ing said head to position said seal over said overlapping strap ends, and means for thereafter operating said bending dies to bend said seal from its fiat condition about said strap ends while said seal is seated on said strap ends and to operate said cutting dies relatively to said bending dies to shear the lateral edges of said seal and strap ends.

'7'. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of a base plate, means mounted on said base plate for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a movable head mounted on said base plate, a pair of relatively movable jaws carried by said head, each of said jaws comprising a bending die and a relatively movable cutting die, said bending dies oi opposite jaw members being adapted to hold a substantially flat seal between them by engagement with its opposite edges, means for moving said head to position said seal over said strap ends, means for eflecting relative movement of the bending dies of opposite jaw members to bend said seal from its fiat condition into tubular form about said strap ends while the seal is seated on said strap ends, and means for effecting relative movement of said cutting dies with respect to each other and with respect to said bending dies to deform the lateral edges of the strap and seal.

8. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a movable head, a pair of relatively movable jaws carried by said'head, each of said jaws comprising a bending die and a relatively movable cutting die, said bending dies of opposite jaw members being adapted to'hold a substantially flat seal between them by engagement with its opposite edges, means for moving said head to position said seal over said strap ends, means for effecting relative movement of the bending dies of opposite jaw members to bend said seal about said strap ends while said seal is seated on said strap ends, means for effecting relative movement of said cutting dies with respect to each other and with respect to said bending dies to deform the lateral edges of the strap and seal, and means for thereafter restoring said bending and cutting dies to their initial relative positions.

9. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of a base plate, a movable head mounted on said base plate, said head comprising relatively movable oppositely disposed bending jaws adapted to engage opposite edge portions of a substantially flat seal and having a sufllcient range of movement to bend a substantially flat seal about overlapping strap ends, said head also comprising cutting dies which are movable relatively to said bending jaws, means for effecting relative movement of said bending jaws, and 'means for 5 independently moving said cutting dies with respect to each other and with respect to said bending jaws.

10. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a sealing device movable toward and from said strap ends and occupying normally a position removed from said strap ends, a magazine for storing substantially flat seals, means for moving the lowermost seal from the magazine into said sealing device,said sealing device comprising relatively movable bending dies and.

shearing dies with respect to which said bending dies have relative movement, means for moving said sealing device bodily to position the seal therein on said overlapping strap ends, and means foractuating said bending dies to bend said seal from a substantially fiat condition to tubular form enclosing said strap ends and for actuating said shearing dies thereafter to deform the seal and the enclosed strap ends.

11. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a sealing device movable toward and from saidstrap ends and occupying normally a position removed from said strap ends, said sealing device comprising relatively movable bending jaws and deforming dies with respect to which said bending jaws are relatively movable, means for feeding a substantially flat seal into said sealing device between said bending jaws when said sealing device is insaid normal position, means for moving said sealing device to position said seal on said overlapping strap ends, and means for operating said bending jaws to bend said seal from its fiat condition into tubular fonn' enclosing said overlapping stra ends and for thereafter operating said deforming dies to deform the lateral edges of the seal and the enclosed strap ends to provide an interlocking joint.

12. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its'ends overlapping, a sealing device movable toward and from said strap ends and occupying normally a position removed from said strap ends, a magazine for storing substantially flat seals, means for moving the lowermost seal from the magazine into said sealing device, said sealing device com prising relatively movable bending dies and shearing dies with respect to which said bending 5 dies have relative movement, means comprising an operating lever for moving said sealing device bodily to position said seal on said overlapping strap ends, and means actuated by the continued motion of said lever for operating said bending dies to bend said seal from said substantially flat condition to tubular form enclosing said strap ends and for moving said shearing dies thereafter with respect tosaid bending dies to deform said seal and the enclosed strap ends. 13. The combination in strap sealingv apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a sealing device movable'toward and.

from said strap ends and occupying normally a position removed from said strap ends, a maga-L zine for storing substantially flat seals, means for moving the lowermost seal from the magazine into said sealing device, said sealing device comprising relatively movable bending dies and shearing dies with respect to which said bending dies have relative movement, said bending dies being spaced to provide openings through which said shearing dies are movable, said sealing device being movable to position a seal in engagement with said overlapping strap ends, said bending dies having sufiicient range of movement to bend a substantially flat seal from its flat condition into tubular form enclosing said strap ends, and means including a common operating member for moving said sealing device for positioning said seal on said overlapping strap ends and then operating said bending dies to bend said seal about said strap ends and then actuating said shearing dies to deform said seal and the enclosed strap ends.

14. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of a base plate adapted to rest upon the surface of a package, means carried by said base plate for holding a strap taut around the pack age with its ends overlapping, a sealing device mounted on said base plate for movement toward 'and from said overlapping strap ends, said sealing device normally occupying a position removed from said strap ends, a seal storage magazine carried by said base plate for storing a stack of superimposed and substantially fiat seals, means for moving the lowermost seal from the magazine into said sealing device, said sealing device comprising oppositely disposed bending jaws for engaging opposite edges of said seal and bending said seal from its fiat condition into tubular form enclosing said strap ends, said sealing device also comprising shearing dies capable of relative movement with respect to said bending jaws, and means for actuating said bending jaws to bend the seal about said strap ends and for then actuating said shearing dies with respect to said bending jaws to deform the seal and the enclosed strap ends.

15. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a sealing device comprising oppo-' site relatively movable bending jaws and deform ing dies which are movable relatively to said. bending jaws, means for actuating said bending jaws for bending a seal to cause said seal to enclosesaid overlapping strap ends, and means including cams for thereafter moving said deforming dies with respect to said bending jaws to deform said seal and strap ends and thereby provide an interlocking-joint.

16. The combination in strap sealing apparatus, of means for holding a strap with its ends overlapping, a sealing device comprising opposite relatively movable bending jaws and deforming dies which are movable relatively to said bending jaws, an operating lever, cams actuated by said lever for moving said bending jaws to bend a seal about overlapping strap ends, and

. cams actuated by said lever for moving said deforming dies to deform said seal and the inclosed 'strap'e'nds andthereby provide an interlocking I joint.

WILLIAM C. CHILDRESS. 

